Do you feel special or important? Do you tell your kids they are special or important?

Feeling special or telling someone they are special comes with a feeling of entitlement - we want the rules to change for us, we want to be the first in line, we want to be the one whom exceptions are made, and we want to be the one who doesn’t die. This is a false sense of importance.

When we embrace our importance we understand we each have a vital place in the world. We feel we have a purpose (dharma), something to contribute to life. We understand our connection to the whole and how every thought, word, and action has an important effect in the world.

Special comes with entitlement. Important comes with responsibility.

Choose to be responsible, it is way more sexy and important than being entitled.

When you speak to kids tell them how important they are rather than special.